Xander O'Neill

Xander O'Neill is a Research Associate in the Department of Mathematics at the School of Mathematical & Computer Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, United Kingdom. His research lies at the intersection of mathematical biology and epidemiology, focusing on modeling infectious disease dynamics in wildlife and livestock populations.

His research interests include epidemiological modeling, pathogen persistence, parasite virulence evolution, and zoonotic disease transmission. He employs mathematical models to study host-pathogen interactions, particularly in ungulate populations such as wild boar, with applications to African swine fever, tuberculosis, and tick-borne infections. His work investigates the impact of ecological factors like host abundance, culling, and chronic infection on disease spread and control.

The analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on theoretical and applied mathematical modeling in veterinary and wildlife epidemiology. His work frequently integrates ecological, immunological, and management factors to understand disease dynamics, contributing to both evolutionary theory and practical disease control strategies.

He has collaborated extensively with researchers including Andy White, Michael Boots, Christian Gortázar, and Francisco Ruiz-Fons. His research contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to good health and well-being (SDG 3) and life on land (SDG 15). While no formal awards or students are listed, his publications have garnered significant citations and attention, including policy citations and media mentions.

Xander O'Neill is actively contributing to the scientific community through high-impact research outputs in journals such as Scientific Reports, Evolutionary Applications, and Bulletin of Mathematical Biology. His work is supported by active collaborations across Europe and is disseminated through open-access publications with measurable research impact.